Love is lovelier the second time around for Maja Salvador and Rambo Nuñez who are now married.
The two tied the knot in a beach wedding at The Apurva Kempinski, a five-star resort in Bali, Indonesia, on July 31, 2023.
The couple have been together for more than four years.
Read: Maja Salvador In Love: The men who got away and the one who is for keeps
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) back in March 2019, Maja revealed that she and Rambo used to be in a relationship when she was 21 years old.
But their relationship only lasted for four months at the time.
Maja was just starting her career in showbiz so she chose to focus her attention to her work first.
She said, "Yung reason namin, bata lang kasi ako nun.
"So, parang hindi nabigyan ng todong chance before. So, eto siguro yung chance."
The talented actress went on to say that she broke her rule never to get back with an ex-boyfriend when she and Rambo crossed paths again in the latter part of 2018.
Then on February 14, 2019, Maja revealed that she spent Valentine's Day with a non-showbiz guy that she dated nine years prior to that day.
It turned out to be the right time for them to be together again.
By then, Maja is already an established dramatic actress, while Rambo has also made a name for himself as a professional in the world of marketing, events, and PR.
"Pero sabi ko nga, minsan you break your own rules.
"And yung reason naman namin kung bakit kami nag-break noon, hindi matindi. Hindi tulad ng iba na matindi."
Among the many things that she loves about Rambo is the way his family really made her feel loved and accepted from the very start.
Maja said, "Walang pagbabago sa very family-oriented and super love niya yung mommy niya.
"E, isa yun sa mga hinahanap ko. Kasi ang sabi nga nila, dapat mahanap mo yung lalaking sobrang mahal yung nanay, para alam mo kung paano ka rin niya mamahalin.
"And yung family nila, sobrang bait!"
She even calls Rambo's mom Marilen Nuñez "mhom" from the moment they started dating again in 2019.
"So, Mhom, may 'h' para maiba. Kasi may ginagaya ata ako nun na may accent, dun nag-start," Maja exclaimed with a laugh.
"Sobrang suwerte lang din na ang bait ng family, na wine-welcome ka na parang pamilya.
"Actually, anak yung turing sa akin, e. Yun yung masarap sa pakiramdam. Yun ang pinapa-feel ng family."
In an exclusive PEP.ph interview with Maja in May 2021, she also explained that it was easy to be at ease with Rambo's family because they understood the reason behind their past breakup.
"Mabait si Bo, and mabait sila Tita Marilen. With Bo, naramdaman niya, nakita naman talaga niya I'm the breadiwnner and kailangan ko mag-work, and di masama yung pinili ko.
"Kay Mhom din, naiintindihan nila. Kaya nung pagbalik ko, nakakatuwa na walang ayaw na magbalikan kami. Lahat boto."
Read: Maja Salvador breaks rule to never get back with an ex-boyfriend
ON how maja handled her relationship with rambo
While Rambo is not a star like Maja, the talented actress said the nature of her work never became an issue for them.
"He understands, he knows me very well. He knows the business, kasi marami rin siyang mga kakilala [na artista]," she said.
In the past, she admitted that she had boyfriends who had trouble understanding the fact that she has to do intimate scenes with an onscreen partner for some of her projects.
This time, Maja took it upon herself to make her boyfriend know how much she values their relationship.
She told PEP.ph: "May mga adjustments din ako. May mga realization ako sa aking past relationship. Baka kaya di nagwo-work kasi because napaka-workaholic ko.
"Kunyari, may dalawa, tatlong boyfriend ako before, na may mga love scenes, hindi sila comfortable. Ako, 'Ano ba? Trabaho!' Nagiging reason siya ng mga pag-aaway.
"Nung naging kami ni Bo, inisip ko rin na pag may mga gagawin akong pelikula, 'Kailan ko pa ba gawin yun?'
"Baka kailangan ko i-try na wala munang ganun. Gusto ko mapa-feel sa boyfriend ko na di ko ito ginagawa para sa kanya.
"Inunahan ko na. Kasi siyempre, mahirap naman talaga sa lalaki na makita yung girlfriend nila na may ganitong eksena.
"But sa kanya, di ko siya inantay."
Maja clarified that Rambo never demanded it from her.
"Nung nalaman niya na may ganun ako, 'Baka mamaya ako sisihin. Sabihin pinagbabawalan kita.'
"Sabi ko, 'Hindi iyon. Pag may chance, pag tinanong ako, ie-explain ko.'"
maja salvador and rambo nuÑez as BUSINESS PARTNERS
Through the years that they've been together, it was easy to see that Maja and Rambo were serious about their relationship.
In 2021, they even put up a business together, Crown Artist Management, initially a talent management company, which later delved into doing TV production.
In another PEP.ph interview, Maja described the adjustment that she and Rambo did as business partners.
"Siguro yung ano lang, hindi kayo makapag-date every day. Ang date ninyo ay puro meetings.
"Ang maganda naman ay nagagawan namin ng paraan.
"Kahit isang oras lang na dinner or kung anuman, basta ma-feel namin na boyfriend-girlfriend kami. Yun naman ang importante din na ginagawa niyo both."
It paved the way for Maja to love her career more as she is not only thinking on her own but even learning how to make other talents find their niche in the entertainment business.
Read: Maja Salvador reveals adjustment when boyfriend Rambo Nuñez Ortega became her business partner
MAJA AND RAMBO NUNEZ'S ENGAGEMENT
It was Easter Sunday, on April 17, 2022, when Maja and Rambo got engaged.
It happened during their vacation with their respective families in El Nido, Palawan.
They were playing Easter egg hunt when Rambo proposed to Maja in front of their loved ones.
Shedding tears of joy, Maja said "yes!"
In an Instagram post, her caption read, "My new beginning @rambonunez."
Read: Maja Salvador is now engaged to Rambo Nuñez Ortega: "My new beginning."
THE WEDDING
Today, on July 31, 2023, Maja and Rambo tied the knot in Bali, Indonesia.
This was witnessed by their family and friends.
Read: Maja Salvador and Rambo Nuñez tie the knot in Bali, Indonesia
Celebrities who were part of her entourage included Kathryn Bernardo, Janella Salvador, newly married Maine Mendoza, and Kakai Bautista.
Her close friends Thou Reyes and Pooh were also present in the occasion.
During her earlier bridal shower, Maja spoke of her mixed emotions in beginning a new chapter of her life.
She said in part, "Kasi kung ibabahagi ko siya sa bawat role na gagawin ko, this time parang nakakatakot dahil wala ng direktor na magka-cut, wala ng actor's cue, ito na yung totoong buhay and excited ako."
Read: Celebrity guests at Maja Salvador and Rambo Nunez's wedding in Bali, Indonesia